“Thou Shalt Be Saved”Romans 10: 4-10

Dr. Kenneth Jones

To gain a better and scriptural understanding of the doctrine of Salvation

To recognize the importance of doctrine as it relates to our salvation and God’s desire for us to live life abundantly

To define salvation beyond the “altar call” and what God desires for us as His children

Purpose

Soteriology - The Doctrine of Salvation

The term salvation encompasses the total work of God by which He seeks to rescue man from the ruin, doom, and the power of sin and bestows upon His creation the wealth of His grace encompassing eternal life, provision for abundant life now, and eternal glory

The word “salvation” is the translation of the Greek word soteria which is derived from the word soter meaning “savior.” The word “salvation” communicates the thought of deliverance, safety, preservation, soundness, restoration, and healing

Hebrew: Strong's Number:   3467; to be delivered; to save from moral troubles; to preserve; to keep safe

Introduction

Romans 10: 4-8:For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that

believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the

righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall

live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of

faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into

heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)

7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from

the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy

heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach

Paul’s Message

The Apostle Paul, although a Convert, was a Jewish Pharisee so he views salvation with a Hebrew Mindset not as today’s Evangelist

We Associate Romans 10:9,10 as the Altar Call Prayer: Why?◦ “Incantation of Salvation” – Confession to obtain

Grace and turned into a “New Creature” instantaneously (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

◦ Grace Through Faith; Ephesians 2: 8,9

Points to Consider

Ephesians 2:8-10 (New Living Translation)God saved you by his grace when you

believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast

about it.10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has

created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Scripture: Saved for Good Works

Romans 10:5/ Leviticus 18:5◦ Moses defines righteousness by the Law: Live

by God’s precepts and you will live

The Bible: God’s Instruction Manual for Living◦ John 5:39 - Search the scriptures; for in them

ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

◦ 2 Timothy 3:15, 16; 1st Peter 2:6; ◦ Salvation is connected to receiving and obeying

God’s Word especially as it relates to Christ

Follow the Instructions

In explaining Romans 10:6-8, the Apostle Paul refers to Deuteronomy, chapter 30

denoting a specific time and place in History

Deuteronomy means “Second Law” – Not that it is a new law but it is being shared

with a new generation (1st Peter 2:9)

Preparation and Possession

Deuteronomy is about “crossing over” into a new covenant, a new country, with better promises

In Deuteronomy, chapter 30, God promises Unconditional Pardon and Restoration

Jesus affirms that God does not wants us to perish, but have “everlasting life” and life more abundantly (John 3:16; John 10:10)

A Better Covenant

In Romans 10, Paul refers to salvation as a commitment to a new covenant, a coming into possession; Preparation for a new life

Moses describes the Righteousness which is of the Law – Leviticus 18:5◦ The Israelite realizes that he could please his case for

righteousness by observing the law◦ But who can plead to God for righteousness and reject Christ

who is the end/completion of the Law?

This becomes a Righteousness by Faith not achieved by works

Defining Salvation

Romans 10:6-8/ Deuteronomy 30:11-15 There is nothing else to be done to gain salvation outside

of the work of Christ◦ Acts 2: 32-25: Even the Great King David was not able to

accomplish what Christ did on the Cross

Moses is saying in Deuteronomy 30 that God’s commandments, the doctrine that they had received is not grievous, baffling, or beyond their reach

We must place our trust in the “Word” or Doctrine of Christ◦ Acts 2:40-42

Righteousness Speaks

Too many people desire and churches teach salvation without obedience, especially to the doctrine of Christ

◦ Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

◦ Micah 6:8 - He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

◦ 1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

Salvation Without Obedience

Ephesians 4:11-13:And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for

the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the

stature of the fulness of Christ:

Unity of the Faith: A strong conviction that God is the Creator and ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. A strong belief that Christ is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain salvation

Are We Operating in the “Unity of the Faith” (Doctrine) Today?

Unity of the Faith

John 14:6: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“

USAToday is reporting on an almost unbelievable new survey that has found that 52 percent of American Christians believe that eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior. (http://themoralcollapseofamerica.blogspot.com/2008/12/52-of-us-christians-believe-jesus-is.html#sthash.0J4KVSAl.dpuf)

A different survey that was taken earlier this year by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life found that 57 percent of evangelical Christians in America believe that "many religions can lead to eternal life

Evangelical Christians are supposedly those who follow the teachings of the Bible the closest. But this survey shows that even a majority of them do not even believe in the most fundamental precepts of the Christians faith.

Unsure of the Doctrine

The Law was only one aspect of the Old Covenant. The other requirements were Sacrifice and Choice

◦ Sacrifice had to be made because no one could keep the Law perfectly and just one small violation violated the whole Law altogether

◦ God expected Israel not to trust in one’s obedience to the Law but the atonement by sacrifice that God provided to make one righteous

◦ Today we trust in the Final Atonement through Christ’ sacrifice once and for all for all men

◦ Romans 6:10; 1st Peter 3:18

Portions of the Law

Choice: Deuteronomy 30:15-18◦ Choose Life: John 10:10

◦ Reflects God’s Desire towards us to choose Him

◦ Moses and Paul encourages the blessings of God, the simplicity of the gospel, and a response to the doctrine being spoken to us

◦ Heaven and Earth to Witness: A formal decision/choice needs to be made

◦ Moses is saying to the new generation that salvation is not beyond their reach – just trust in God and follow the doctrine

Portions of the Law

Commitment by Choice

Commitment by Confession (Romans 10:9,10)

Commitment by Conforming (Romans 12:1,2)

Righteous By Faith

Romans 10:9,10 / Matthew 10:32-34◦ A Formal Choice Must be Made and Witnessed by Heaven

and Earth

◦ Will Bring Division - Between those who seek to be saved and those who don’t (believe)

◦ Confess: To declare openly (no “private” affirmation); to say the same thing as another

◦ Confession is to bring oneself into agreement with the doctrine/gospel of Christ being convinced that what it says is true and profitable

Salvation “Process”

Believe◦ Place confidence in; to trust in Jesus or God as

able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something.

◦ Saving Faith – A Faith that Saves One From Destruction

◦ A joyful trust that Jesus is the Messiah and author of our Salvation (Hebrews 12:2)

Salvation “Process”

Thou shall be saved – Kept from danger or destruction (Psalms 40:2)

To be delivered from the penalties of the Messianic Judgment (God’s punitive wrath given at judgment day)

Salvation◦ Moral Purity◦ Deliverance from error and notions◦ Pardon of Sin◦ Peace that comes to a soul reconciled to God◦ Speaks to the beginning of “saving faith,” whereby we must

grow in “Active Faith,” believing God daily for all of our needs (Acts 2:46,47)

◦ Salvation does not end at the “Altar” – We become “living sacrifices”

Thou Shalt Be Saved

For With the Heart One Believes Unto Righteousness

◦ This is a faith and an understanding that comes not only from the Mind, but the Heart

◦ A heart that experiences Conviction and Understands the Need for a Savior

◦ A Heart that experiences the “goodness of God”

◦ From one’s conviction, one’s mouth will boldly confess his obligation to his Redeemer, being fully persuasion he has received remission of all his sins through the blood of the cross

Completing the Process

Acts 2:37-41:Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their

heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and

the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Scripture

They Heard the Word They were Convicted They asked What Could Be Done They Received the Word and Responded to

Instructions They Realized that the Word and That This

Experience was Necessary to Save them From the Influence They were to Experience in an Evil Generation

They Continued in the Apostles’ Doctrine and Fellowship

Points of Emphasis

We come into this world, “poisoned” by sin

All we have to do is receive the antidote and follow its instructions if we want to live

The Brass Serpent in the Wilderness represents Christ because all the people had to do was to look upon it and live (Numbers 21:1-9; John 3:14)

Give Me the Antidote

Psalms 37:4-7, 34, 39,40Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the

desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he

shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and

thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the

man who bringeth wicked devices to pass34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the

LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they

trust in him

Another Way to Understand It

Lord, today I believe Your Word that You are the Most High God and that salvation and

power are in Your Hand. I believe and confess with conviction and assurance that

You sent Your Only Begotten Son who became the final sacrifice, the final atonement for my

sins. From my heart and with my mouth I accept Your completed Work through Christ and commit my life to serve you and obey

your doctrine. Today, I am saved to perform good works for You and the kingdom.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Prayer of Salvation